Flying, love, food as a drug, bodies, movies; mostly from comments

[cjsmith]

Some of my best stuff is in comments on other people's entries. ("Best" can mean most thought-provoking, most honest, most vulnerable, funniest, whatever.)

1. Congratulations to fyellin for passing his instrument checkride Friday! (I've been away from net connection since then.)

2. On the definitions of "in love" and "love": I use "in love" to be very like "infatuated", and to me, both are ultimately about selfishness. This has the odd effect of making "in love" and "love" near-opposites. I am completely aware that not everyone would agree on this usage. ;-)

3. On certain foods being addictive: For me, sugary things and white-flour-based things (bread, pasta...) are major, major cravings sources. [They turn me into a junkie. Seriously. Once I start, I crave them. If I don't eat them for a while, the cravings eventually stop. How very interesting, eh? Also, if I don't eat them for a while, my digestion is smoother, my blood sugar stays in a much better range, my hunger levels are more even and generally lower, my sleep is better, my energy is better...]

4. I probably would have burst into tears had I tried to comment on the entry with this link (NSFW). I still might, even without trying to comment. (Hat tip to mactavish.)

5. And people wonder why I don't watch many movies.

Comments

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

I remember when training as a nurse that I attended a lecture on refined sugar. In effect, the lecturer made the point that sugar IS a drug - and an addictive one at that. That's why large quantities are added to prepared baby foods and why children are encouraged by peer pressure and other means to eat sugar. Once hooked, it's extremely difficult to give it up completely - hence the withdrawl symptoms. I am exactly the same way. I can go weeks without eating any candy, but give me one piece, and I'll eat the entire packet. I have no way to stop until the candy is gone.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It is some scary stuff, that's for sure.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me (and thus I keep mentioning ad boredom) is how sweet "real food" starts to taste if I stop eating so blasted much sugared or HFCSed stuff. Carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes right off the vine -- this stuff is very sweet! But most of us don't notice because none of it is anywhere near the bodypounding levels of a Butterfinger bar or our oh-so-refreshing syrup drinks.